Wife had me stop, and she got this photo about 2 miles from where I live.
N
Only if he paid his Lodge dues recently. Otherwise he is a former Eagle.
A local Kite
The other day while surveying I watched from 20metres in awe at a Kite swooping on a flock of wild pigeons that were its size. The speed and agility were amazing. Just like a fighter jet as it maneuvered and swooped on the pigeon flock. Nearly caught one. The startled pigeons were scared out of their wits and headed for cover, saw one roost nearby trembling.
RADU
A local Kite
Here in Oklahoma we have the Mississippi Kite.
Apparently similar size and comparable to their "down under" cousins. They are fierce raptors. As the months warm we approach their mating season. The males defend the nest by "dive bombing" anything that appears as a threat. That could be a jogger in a park, a slinking feline along a fence, or on occasion a surveyor looking for corners.
A local Kite
great shots. I wish I could fly like those guys.
A local Kite
There was a good sized osprey on a branch right over a proposed building corner I was staking. I save it for last and when I started pounding, some little rodent ran from the vegetation: that bird dove within a few feet of me and snagged his snack.
My wife and I were walking on an open area sidewalk on the grounds of our state capitol in Jackson, Mississippi, when I noticed something coming toward us about head high. It was a red-tail hawk carrying a squirrel on his way to a perch somewhere behind us. He was still working on gaining altitude when we ducked out of his way. I felt the wind from his wings as he passed by that close. That was an amazing encounter.
As surveyors, we are often times out in nature, and are privileged to see some amazing things. An owl alighting on a branch and turning to stare wide-eyed while their body rocks with the still moving limb and their heads remain perfectly fixed. A flock of wild turkey standing almost four feet tall suddenly flushing from all around, or a covey of quail or doe deer from under your feet. A buck deer running right up to you , stopping and turning to look at an unseen danger and then right back at you from a distance of only a few yards away. A turtle with his hind leg caught on a barbed wire fence for a few days and surrounded by bare ground in his attempts to free himself, grateful that a surveyor found him and set him free. A neighborhood dog who just found his buddy of the day and is overjoyed to have someone to scratch his ears. A neighborhood cat glad to find some legs to wind around. A big fish in a small stream. A HUGE snake that went "plop" in the water and you never saw him! High pitched squealing and shaking grass tops as as a king snake captured a field mouse and was coiling around it. A raccoon in the cedar tree right above your head. A fox at dusky dark stopping to stare, and one time a bobcat with big yellow eyes.
And the ever-present talker who follows you around for the entire survey and talks non-stop about everything. Where is that Rottweiler when you need him?! B-)
Fun with red-tails
I can't remember the first time it happened but I can think of a dozens of times we (field crew) got to play with the red tailed hawks. If you're working in the open, like say a mowed hay field, just drag a chain behind you with the leather thong flopping in the grass. No hungry hawk can resist.
They try two or three times to swoop in and grab it. Only to realize that 25' of steel tape is too heavy and they drop it. But hunger and curiosity gets the best of them and they'll land. Then they start waddling and hopping like a chicken behind the leather as it moves through the grass. They'll nip at it with their beaks and talons...twisting their heads side to side at it like a hound dog listening to Hank Williams.
And a bird with a 3' wing span DOES create a healthy wake as he swoops close by.
iphone thru the telescope
This guy was "scoping" us out a while back.
iphone thru the telescope
Had to share that with several friends in a email labeled, "I have my eye on you and have you in my crosshairs." One of those friends is our County Sheriff, so if you don't see any more posts from me any time soon, well, I guess...................
We had a Hawk follow along with us while stationing a rural highway that was to be rebuilt. We were setting an offset at the fenceline every 100 feet. The Hawk would light on the fence nearby hoping we would scare up his lunch.
James
iphone thru the telescope
> One of those friends is our County Sheriff, so if you don't see any more posts from me any time soon, well, I guess...................
A Local Owl...
Reminds me of the owl we saw on our walk last week...
There he was, perched on the top of a sign as I was walking by. At first I thought he was fake until his head moved along with the motions of my walking. I was surprised he let me get as close as I did with my camera! Then his wife came along and started squawking at him and he flew back into the trees. Typical woman, squawking at her man. o.O B-)
What She Said Angel Was,
"He was supposed to be catching mice, not being nice."
Paul in PA
